Things can go either way
In old days stains were pretreated and largely removed before things went to the wash. This was for all but certain marks that were easily and largely removed by then standard cold pre-soak then hot wash.
Keep in mind however when soap was still queen of wash day many marks had to be treated beforehand either because soap wouldn't remove them, and or due to coming in contact with same would cause marks to be come permanent/difficult to remove later.
Depending upon who (or is it whom?) one believes modern laundry detergents with their advanced cocktails of enzymes, surfactants, chelating agents, and activated oxygen bleaching systems have removed need to pretreat many stains.
That being said in France, Germany and many other areas in Europe old ways die hard. Result is market saturated with a vast and bewildering array of stain removers with many meant to tackle specific marks commonly found in area.
For instance in France it's red wine.
UK it's beetroot and curry.
Asian nations it's soy sauce
Makers of Tide, Ariel, Persil and other top shelf offerings have told housewives and others doing laundry for years they don't need separate stain removers. Their products alone will do the job in wash.
Advent of liquid detergents (with or without various dosing devices) changed things up. In theory one does not need a separate product for most marks, just dab bit of Persil, Ariel, or Tide liquid on stain, then bung rest in wash along with laundry.
On this side of pond it was Wisk, Era, Dynamo, Tide and other liquid detergents.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R6hVykvzDvA
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ea3hKsph5vg
Where liquid laundry detergents have it over powders is their higher level of surfactants, emulsifiers and solvents. Things that are especially good at removing wax, oil, grease, and fat based marks.
Advanced powder detergents have caught up to liquids at some level, but overall often latter still shifts oily/greasy soils and marks better.
Over past several decades there has been a shift in laundry habits reflected by changes in how people live. Often you see less of clay based soils but more of those based on oils (body, foods, etc...). This goes long way in explaining why powdered laundry detergents have been losing market share to various liquid formats.
